18 to 24-year-olds were the most likely age group to download an app, such as the Guardian app for the Kindle. Photograph: Graeme Robertson

Suggestions that young people are not interested in the news may be wide of the mark, with a new a survey of tablet computer owners forecasting an increase in news readership among 18- to 24-year-olds.

More than 12 million adults in the UK now own a tablet device, such as an Apple iPad, Google Nexus 7 or Microsoft Surface, according to the YouGov survey for Newsworks, the UK newspaper industry marketing body.

The survey of 2,055 adults found that ownership of tablet computers soared to 30% to all internet-connected UK adults thanks to the Christmas boom.

Four in 10 owners said they were more likely to read news on a tablet, with the most marked increase among younger readers. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 54% said they would use the tablets to read more news, as did 60% of 25- to -34-year-olds.

According to the survey, 18- to 24-year-olds were the most likely age group to download an app from one of the UK national newspapers, with 40% saying they would, compared to the average across all demographics of 30%.

"The UK tablet market is exploding. These devices haven't been around for long but after an extraordinary Christmas this research shows nearly 30% of the UK population now owns one," said Newsworks chief executive Rufus Olins.

"With intense competition driving down prices, more people are treating themselves to a tablet, across all ages and socio-economic groups. And they are spending a lot of time reading newspapers on their new gadgets. It is very good news for the news industry."

The survey was carried out online between 28 and 31 December 2012. Newsworks was formerly known as the Newspaper Marketing Agency.

• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".

• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.